Malta draws Group D in Orara Valley
Sevens

Orara Valley Axemen rugby league club have released the draw for the upcoming Sevens tournament to be held at the Coramba Sportsground in Coffs Harbour on Australia?s east coast in two weeks.

Malta was drawn in Group D alongside Guyra, Coffs Harbour and Sydney University.

In Malta?s opening Sevens match, the Knights will meet the Guyra Super Spuds before taking on Sydney University and Coffs Harbour Comets later in the day.

The top two in each group will qualify for the round of 16 with the top two of the remaining 3rd place getters also qualifying to play in day two of the tournament.

Matches will be fourteen minutes long, consisting of two seven-minute halves.

Quarter and semi finals will be extended to a length of 20 minutes via 2 ten-minute halves, with the $10,000 final decider stretched over twenty-four minutes through 2 twelve-minute halves.

The tournament will be great value for money with over 40 games on day one alone, according to Orara Valley Rugby League president Kevin Elks.

?Admission is only $2 for adults and children under 16 are admitted free which represents excellent value? Elks said.

Fiji A who defeated Malta 40-24 in October of 2004 said the Fijians have been well into their training with Fiji A five-eighth George Dansey saying the Fijians were well and truly ready for the tournament.

?In the past few weeks, we?ve been training hard? Dansey said.

?There?s a good feeling in the team, and we?re all looking forward to it?

Malta?s coach Joe Grima is equally excited at the Sevens tournament, which will be Malta?s first of the ?Sevens? variety.

?the tournament will allow Malta to display our sevens' style of rugby league for the first time, after having played two 13 a side matches in 2004? says Grima.

The Malta Knights will travel to Coffs Harbour thanks to the generous support of the team?s major sponsor in Penrith Subaru and Malta?s tournament sponsor in Ubeeco-Packaging Solutions, which will fund Malta?s participation in the tournament.

Malta international Danny Mamo has come into the coaching staff ranks and will travel with the Malta squad as trainer, replacing Dallas Weston.

Furthermore, the MRLA Board of Directors have pledged $200 towards the ?Tsunami disaster? appeal with Malta?s football manager Mark Sultana admitting the MRLA would help out wherever they can.